Did Corruption Arrests Disrupt The Machine In Hudson?

Considering Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano is allegedly heard on tape bragging to the cooperating witness that he has ‘the Italians, Hispanics and seniors locked up…and could get indicted and still receive 85 -95% of the vote’…it’s probably a question worth asking.

Obviously, the leaders are key to getting out the vote in November and Cammarano may be a bit distracted even if all the allegations turn out to be false.

But it’s not just him. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has confirmed that he met with the government’s cooperating witness more than once, and has also admitted he is unnamed official #4 in one of the complaints. Healy is also a key person to getting out the Democratic vote in November.

But here is the thing…it’s not just the household names. Jack Shaw ( who’s body was found after an apparent suicide ) and Joe Cardwell are also facing charges.

Cardwell is a key operative in Jersey City’s Ward F, the largely African American ward in Jersey City. Cardwell along with Bobby Jackson ( also deceased ) have helped deliver huge voter turnout in Ward F in several elections. They were catapulted onto the politocal map when they first did so for Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham ( also now deceased ) in 2001.

Where am I going with all of this? Well, some of these unsung heroes may also be distracted when it comes time to rally the troops for Governor Corzine in November.

Since he is trailing his Republican opponent Chris Christie by double digits in some polls, that could spell trouble. Democrats need big pluralities in Democratic strongholds like Hudson and Essex Counties. If for some reason that doesn’t happen – meaning people don’t get driven to the polls or people the voters trust don’t urge them to show up and vote, it will keep turnout low and could swing the race to the Republican.

phew. that is a mouthful.

Some Democrats have questioned the timing of the sweep and who specifically was targeted. After all, at least some of the work in this investigation took place when Christie was the U.S. Attorney. But even Corzine took the high road on that one saying that if they 9 the people accused ) took money; that is illegal. And Christie says no one was specifically targeted because that would be entrapment. He says those who took the bribes needed to previously express a willingness to do so before being approached.